Combination flush and storage tank for toilets or the like



Jan. 13, 1948. H. DUCKENFIELD 2,434,399

COMBINATION FLUSH AND STORAGE TANK FOR TOILETS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 3, 1945 INVENTOR. t Horace Duckenfie/d BY W ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 13, 1948 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION FLUSH AND STORAGE TANK FOR TOILETS OR THE LIKE The present invention relates to improvements in combination flush and storage tanks for toilets or the like, and its principal object is to provide, in connection with a flush tank of the character described, a pocket or auxiliary chamber adapted for storing various objects, and particularly intended for accommodating the toilet brush commonly used for cleaning the toilet bowl.

For this purpose it is proposed to provide a special compartment or pocket at one side of the flush tank Without increasing the size of the latter, and to arrange the special pocket in such a manner that it will be kept dry and that drippings from the brush will automatically join the main circuit of the flush tank.

It is further proposed to provide a common cover for the main compartment and the auxiliary compartment, and in one preferred form, to arrange the cover in such a manner that it may be moved partially to give access to the special pocket, while the main portion of the cover remains supported on the flush tank.

The storing of a toilet bowl brush is a source of inconvenience. It should remain near the toilet, for obvious reasons, and cannot readily be accommodated in the storag or shelf space usually provided in a bath room, principally for sanitary reasons.

If left standing against the wall, it becomes unsightly and detracts from the appearance of a modern bathroom.

It is proposed, therefore, to provide storage space for the brush within the flush tank where the brush will be out of sight, and does not come into contact with any other objects which might become contaminated.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features of the same will be fully defined in the claims hereto appended.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view of a flush tank, a portion being shown in section;

Figure 2, a front view of a modified form of flush tank having my invention incorporated therein;

Figure 3, a section taken along line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4, a side view of the flush tank, looking at it from the left side; and

Figure 5, a side view of the flush tank, looking at it from the right side.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understogdwthat various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the flush tank I illustrated in Figure 1, may be of substantially conventional form, comprising a rear wall 2, a bottom 3, side walls 4 and 5, a front wall 6, and a cover 7.

In accordance with my invention, the tank is divided into two compartments 8 and 9 by means of a vertical partition it, which runs parallel to the side wall and is positioned fairly close to one of the side walls 5; so as to make the compartment 9 relatively small as compared with compartment 8, which latter may be referred to as the main compartment and is adapted to accommodate the flushing apparatus normally provided in a flush tank;

The flushing apparatus may be of any suitable, conventional type, and is not illustrated in detail in the drawing. It is operated by means of a handle I l and the water is discharged through a conduit l2 extending downwardly from the main compartment.

The conduit I2 is controlled by means of a valve [3, forming part of the flushing apparatus, and may be of any suitable conventional construction.

The partition l0 extends to the full depth of the tank, from front to rear and substantially to the height of the walls of the tank at least above the normal water level in the main chamber.

The pocket or auxiliary compartment 9 is thus completely protectedjrom the water in the main compartment, and is kept dry except for possible drippings from the toilet bowl brush to be stored therein.

The pocket preferably should be confined to a size sufficient to accomplish its purpose, namely that of storing the toilet bowl brush, and should not substantially decrease the capacity of the main chamber. Any slight difference in capacity might be made up or compensated for by raising the water level in the main compartment.

The bottom of the compartment 9 is provided with a drain hole I4 connecting with a drain pipe l5 leading into the main flushing conduit [2 below the level of the flush tank.

Thus, any drippings from the brush stored in the pocket 9 will automatically find their way into the main conduit l2.

The cover 1, shown in Figure 1, is of conventional type, and has to be lifted off by a vertical lift in order to give access to the two compartments of the flush tank.

without requiring its weight to be lifted.

This cover I is formed with a bottom ledge l6 slidable within the tank, so as to clear the partition I, and with an outter flange l'l running alongtheifront and the left side of the flush tank. The outer flange is omitted on the right side, as illustrated in Figure This construction allows the entire cover to be moved sidewise, that is to the left without anylifting effort. It may be moved suificiently far to give access to the pocket 9, while its main weight still rests on the upper edge of the tank.

My'monstruction of; the tank cover greatly facilitatescinsertion and removal f the brush into and out of the pocket or auxiliary compartment9.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description:

It the conventional form of cover shown in Figure 1 is used, a lifting effort is necessary, at least at the right side of the cover, to clear the pocket.

Where the form of Figure 2 is used, it is merely necessary to slidethe cover to the leftfor opening the pocket, and to the rightfor closing it.:

Any drippings adhering tothe brush may readily find their way into the main conduit l2.

Thus my invention relieves. the bathroom*-of the unsightly appearance ofj the toilet brushfand f provides a storage space which is immediately available, easy of access, removed from all otherstorage space, sanitary, self draining'and self ventilating, since each flushing operatiorr draws on the storage chamber from above and from below, and causes a certain amount of agitation in its air space.

1. A flush tank for a toilet or the like having an upright partitionfto provide a main chamber for holding flushing apparatus and an auxiliary chamber for storing objects and having a common cover for both chambers, the partition being constructed for establishing communication between the two chambers above the normal water level in the main chamber to subject the auxiliary chamber to suction when the water in the main chamber recedes during flushing operations.

2. A flush tank for a toilet or the like having an upright partition to provide a, main chamber for holding flushing apparatus and an auxiliary chamber for storing objects and having a common cover for both chambers, the partition being constructed for establishing communication between the two chambers above the normal water level in the main chamber to subject the auxiliary chamber to suction when the water in the main chamber recedes during flushing operations and the cover and the tank having cooperative guide means whereby the cover may be slid sidewise to uncover the auxiliary chamber while maintaining its balance over the main chamber.

3. A flush tank for a toilet or the like having an upright partition to provide armain chamber for holding flushing apparatus and an auxiliary chamber for storing objects and having a common cover for both chambers, the partition being constructed for establishing communication between the-twochambers above thenormal water level in the main chamber to subject the auxiliary chamber to suction when the water in the main chamber recedes during flushing operations, and the auxiliary chamber having a drain outlet connecting into the main chamber'fiushing outlet.

' 4. A flush tankfor a toilet or the like having an upright partition to provide a' main chamber for holding flushing apparatus and an auxiliary chamber for storing objects, a common cover for both chambers,- and a drain outlet for the aux- 'HORACE DUCKENFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number V Name Date 1,215,294 MacDonald Feb. 6, 1917 1,959,790 Katzman May 22, 1934 2,351,560 Thompson et al. June 13, 1944 

